BayCare is preparing to bring drone-based medical deliveries to the Tampa Bay region, aiming to improve speed, convenience and access to care.
The not-for-profit health system announced plans to partner with autonomous delivery company Zipline to build a network serving patients and facilities across West Central Florida. The service is expected to launch in late 2027, beginning in the St. Petersburg–Clearwater area before expanding throughout Tampa Bay. It will enable on-demand, contactless delivery of lab samples, medications and critical supplies.
“This new delivery option allows us to serve customers more quickly and reliably while giving patients more flexibility and convenience,” BayCare President and CEO Stephanie Conners said in a statement.
The system works by having providers place orders into a designated Zipline Dropbox. An electric drone retrieves the package and flies to its destination, where it lowers a delivery pod on a tether while remaining hundreds of feet above ground. The aircraft then returns to a nearby charging station. Two such stations are planned in Pinellas County.
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For patients, participation will be optional, offering an alternative to trips to pharmacies or care sites. Officials say the service could also reduce traffic congestion and delivery-related emissions by replacing short car trips with zero-emission flights.
Zipline representatives emphasized the system’s safety and privacy features, noting that the company does not access patient health information and collects only essential delivery details. Patients will receive precise delivery windows and real-time tracking.
BayCare leaders say the partnership reflects a broader push to extend healthcare access beyond traditional settings.
“Working with Zipline gives us the opportunity to build a more connected and efficient delivery network,” Donna Lynch, BayCare’s vice president of laboratory services, said.